Dmf. Vanaalten et al., ENGINEERING PROTEIN MECHANICS - INHIBITION OF CONCERTED MOTIONS OF THE CELLULAR RETINOL-BINDING PROTEIN BY SITE-DIRECTED MUTAGENESIS, Protein engineering, 10(1), 1997, pp. 31-37
Recently we reported on the dynamic properties of the cellular retinol
binding protein, a member of the fatty acid binding protein family. A
few conserved glycines were identified as important for producing the
conformational changes necessary for the uptake and release of retino
l. Here, we describe a multidisciplinary analysis of a genetically eng
ineered mutation of one of these glycines (Gly67), designed to inhibit
an observed hinge bending motion. The correctly folded mutant protein
is unable to bind retinol. Analysis of the molecular dynamics simulat
ions of the mutant and wild type protein using the essential dynamics
method shows that the mutation indeed inhibits the hinge bending motio
ns which are important for retinol binding.